This white paper is the first in a series laying out Defenders of Wildlife’s vision for improving implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The paper describes some of our core values on endangered species conservation and our priorities for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the ESA.

Sharks have roamed the seas for hundreds of millions of years. Perfect predators at the top of the food chain, sharks had few enemies until humans began to exploit them. Today, 26 species of shark are now endangered, and an additional 115 species are vulnerable or near threatened. Learn more about the causes of this drastic decline, and what conservation measures can be taken to stop it.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement aimed at regulating and ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. This factsheet explains how the protections for sharks under CITES do not apply to domestic trade, and combats the misinformation surrounding the impacts of a CITES listing for sharks.

The Fiscal Cliff could be devastating for America's National Wildlife Refuge System, forcing cutbacks to conservation work, slashing recreational opportunities, and depriving local communities of a major revenue stream. This report warns of the top 10 impacts that national wildlife refuges could face unless Congress agrees on a plan to abandon Sequestration.